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US 8,798,825 B1Granted
Wakeboat hull control systems and methods
OwnerRichard L. Hartmaninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Wakeboat hull control systems and methods are provided to monitor the orientation of the wakeboat hull in the surrounding water, and to automatically control wakeboat ballast components to achieve or maintain desired hull orientations. Systems and methods are provided to measure, store, and recall hull orientation. Systems and methods are also provided to enable automated action to improve the safety, automation, performance, convenience, and marketing advantage of wakeboat ballast systems.
Claims22
A wakeboat hull control system comprising:
- a first inclinometer operatively associated with the orientation of the hull of the wakeboat, wherein the first inclinometer is operatively associated with the orientation of the hull of the wakeboat to measure the tilt of the hull of the wakeboat around a first axis;
- a second inclinometer operatively associated with the orientation of the hull of the wakeboat, wherein the second inclinometer is operatively associated with the orientation of the hull of wakeboat to measure the tilt of the hull around a second axis, the first axis being non-parallel to the second axis;
- and
- processing circuitry coupled to and receiving measurements from both the first and second inclinometers;
- and
- a plurality of ballast pumps coupled to and operated by the processing circuitry, the processing circuitry operating the ballast pumps in accordance with the measurements from one or both of the first and/or second inclinometers.
3 more elements
A wakeboat hull control method comprising:
- using processing circuitry to acquire measurements of both a first tilt of a hull of a wakeboat about a first axis and a second tilt of the hull of the wakeboat about a second axis that is non-parallel to the first axis;
- and
- using the processing circuitry to change an amount of ballast in at least one ballast compartment aboard the wakeboat to change the one or both of the first and/or second tilt of the hull of the wakeboat from the acquired measurements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.